Metal shelving



Aug. 16, 1932. L. H. FENSTERMAKER METAL SHELVING Filed Aug. 29, 1929 gwxwntoz Llawaai Anais, 1932 PATENT oFFlcr.

LILO-YD E. IENSTEBMAIEB, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN' sHELvnrG Application led .August 29, 1929. Serial No. 389,149.

This invention relates to metal shelving. The use of metal shelving in stores, warehouses, libraries and like places has become almost universal. In virtually all instances this metal shelving is of the knock down type and its several elements must be joined together to fabricate the structure. While numerous forms of sheet metal shelving are at resent available, each has its inherent dem ects. 1n one instance the multiplicity of elements which combine to form the shelving makes the cost prohibitive. 1n another instance the cost of assembly is high. While in still another instance adjustability of the shelving after assembly is virtually precluded by reason of the fact that the several elements are riveted together or anchored in such a manner as to prevent their being dismantled or rearranged. The most common faultpresent in shelving of this type is the necessity of the use of tools to assemble the several elements or to in any way alter the shelving arrangement.

One object of the present invention is to provide metal shelving which may be fabricated or knocked down without the use of tools.

Another object is the provision of shelving and su porting means therefor which are adapted) to be manufactured at an extremely low cost by virtue of the few essential elements and the simplicity of these elements.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of metal shelving constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. This sectional view is taken in a plane through adjacent front uprights.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarge sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The metal shelving shown in the accompanying drawing comprises a plurality of spaced uprights preferably in the form of T-beams having a series of spaced apertures 11 piercing the stem portions thereof. A plurality of sheet metal shelves 12 are fprovided i with depending flanges 13 at their ont and rear edges. The lower extremity of these flanges 13 are provided with short inwardlyv and upwardly directed flanges 14 which serve to position reinforcing straps 15. These reinforcing straps 15 are provided with legs 16 which are bent at right angles to the body portion of the straps. The legs 16 lie adjacent depending flanges 17 which are formed on the ends of the shelves 12. Ears 18 which are struck out of the ianges 17 (preferably at the time of manufacture) are adapted to engage 1n recesses or apertures 19 formed in the legs 16 of the reinforcing straps 15 to secure the straps in position within the flanges 13 of the shelves 12. To position the reinforcing straps 15 they may be canted slightly to permit them to be passed between the body portion of the shelf 12 and the Bange 14. rThe straps may then be swung by forc- 21 adjacent each end thereof. 1t will be noted at this time that the top face which lies between the grooves 21 of the key 20 is in contact with the 4base of cut out portions 22 and 23 of the shelf ange 17 and the leg portion 16 of the reinforcing strap 15 res ectively. Thus it will be seen that the key orms the load sustaining connection between the shelf 12 and the upright 10.

A clip 24 preferably formed by a stamping of sheet metal serves to releasably retain the key 20 in position on the upright 10. The clip 24. is provided with a key-hole slot 25 which has its reduced portion 26 extended upwardly. The lower extremity of the vclip is provided with an inwardly directed iiange 27 provided with a face 28 which is adapted to contact with the surface of the stem of the T-beam 10. A pair of feet 29 which are bent from the body portionv of the clip 24 are also adapted to contact with the T-beam to insure firm contact between the clip and the 5 T-beam. A side 30 of the clip is ada ted to contact with the cross portion of the -beam to prevent rotation of the clip when it has been positioned upon the key 20. The upper extremity of the clip is in the form of a finger 31 provided with a convex surface 32 which is adapted to engage the inner surface ofthe leg 16 of the reinforcing strap 15 to bind the end flange 17 against the T-beam.

The assembly of the shelving is extremely simple and may be accomplished without the aid of tools. As the reinforcing straps have been properly positioned within the anges 13 of the shelves 12 in the manner herein above described; the several keys 20 20 may be inserted into the particular apertures 11 of the u rights 10 which will give the desired sheli) position. The clips 24 may then be applied to the keys 20 by threading their keyholes 25 over the ends of the keys 20. The clips may be moved longitudinally on the keys until the reduced portions 26 of the keyholes register with the several grooves 21 on the keys 20. Simultaneously the face 28 of the flange 27 and the feet 29 which are bent from the body portion will contact with the surface of the side of the u right 10. At this time4 the clip may be orced downwardly to securely retain the key 20 within the upright 10. When the chps are thus positioned the several shelves 12 may be placed in position above the clips and forced downwardly until their cut-out portions 22 and 23 are in contact with the top surface of the key which lies between the grooves 21 and the upright member 10. The distance between the grooves 21 is such that the fingers 30 of the clips 24 will apply pressure against the legs 16 of the rein orcing straps 15 when shelves are in a pro er osition. Thus it will be noted that t e. anges 17 of the adjacent shelves 12 will be drawn tightly against the upright 10 to thereby insure a firm and rigid connection for each shelf.

From the foregoing specification it will readily be seen that a simple, economical and effective shelving has been provided which may be readily assembled or altered vwithout the use of any tools.

While `the invention has been described in considerable detail in the fore oing s ecication, it will readily 'be un erstoo that I various changes may be made in its embodiment without departing from or sacrificin 60 any of the advantages hereinafter claime I claim z- 1. In a shelving structure the combination of an upright, a shelf supported thereby and having a depending edge flange, a vertical 5 clip having an upper end arranged to clamp in said upright and engaging sai flange to" i support the same, and a clip having one end arranged to clamp said flange against said upright and the other end arranged to bear against said upright, said clip also having a slot intermediate the ends thereof releasably engaged with said key to releasably retain said key and to releasably maintain said clip in clamping position.

3. In a shelving structure the combination of an upright, a shelf having a dependin flange, a horizontal key removably mounte in said upright and engaging said flange to support the same, and a clip arranged to clamp said flane a ainst said upright, said clip having a ey-{liole slot engaged with said key to releasably retain said key and to releasably maintain said clip in clamping position, said clip being movable lengthwise of said slot into and out of locking engagement with said key.

4. In a shelving structure the combination of an upright, a shelf having a depending flange, a horizontal key removably mounted in said upright below said shelf, said key having a head at one end thereof, and a clip arranged to clamp said iiange to said upright, said clip having a keyhole slot therein in which said key is engaged and coacting with said head to releasably retain said key and to releasably maintain said clip in clamping position, the large end of said slot being of a size to permit passage of said head therethrough when aligned therewith thereby to effect release of saidclip and key by movel ment of said clip relative to said key in a direction lengthwise of said slot.

5. In a shelving structure the combination of an upright, a shelf having a depending flange, a horizontal key removably mounted in said upright below said shelf, said key having a head at one end thereof, and a clip arranged to clamp said flange to said upright, said clip having a verticalkeyhole slot therein in which said key is releasably engaged, the large end of said slot being of a size to permit passage of said head therethrough when aligned therewith thereby to effect release of said clip and key by vertical movement of clip relative to said key.

6. In a shelving structure the combination of an upright, a shelf having a depending flange, a key removably mounted in said upright and extending therethrough, and a. palr of clips releasably engaged with the opposite ends of said key and coacting therewith to clampsaid iange against said upright, each of said clips having a slot to receive said key and movable lengthwise of said slot into and out of interlocking engagement with said key. i 7. In a shelving structure the combination of an u right, a shelf having a depending flange, a ey removably mounted in said upright and engaged with said flange to support the same, said key extending through said upright, and a pair of clips releasably engaged with the opposite ends of said key and coacting therewith to clamp said flange against said upright, each of said clips being slotted to'receive an end of said key and removable relatively to said key to release the same.

8. In a shelving structure the combination of an upright having a vertical. series of apertures therein, a shelf having 'a depending flange, a shelf supporting key removablytted 1n one of sald apertures and extending therethrough, said key having a reduced por--l tion adjacent each end thereof, and a slotted clip releasably engaged with each reduced portion and cooperating with said key to clamp said flange against said upright. v

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of August, 1929.

LLOYD H. FENSTERMAKER. 

